Jonathan Caldwell will take a two shot lead into the final round of The Newmachar Golf Club Challenge in Aberdeen, the penultimate event on this season’s EuroPro Tour calendar.
The Clandeboye professional fired a second round five-under par 67 to add to his 64 of day one to lead the field at 13-under par heading into Friday’s final round.
The Northern Irishman is eyeing a precious first win of the season in a result that could potentially see him leapfrog Andrew Wilson and find himself inside the top-5 on the Road to Desert Springs standings with one event to play.
“I have had a pretty solid season all round and probably just not made as many putts as needed over the season, but I feel I have found something this week on the greens and managed to hole a few more the last few days” said Caldwell after his round.
“I played last week on the Challenge Tour in Portugal and got four rounds in, i didn’t play super but it was nice to get a full week on the Challenge Tour and get an event in on an off week on EuroPro. It was a very tight course tee to green in Portugal and really set me up nicely coming here this week as here is a little shorter and a bit more wide open”
With the top-5 assured of Challenge Tour status next year, Caldwell is currently languishing £5,500 outside the Promised Land in 11th place but with £10,000 on offer for first prize, a win could change everything ahead of the Tour Championship set for Almeria on October 30.
“I’m looking forward to tomorrow, I know if I just control what I am doing and play like I have been the last few days then I will be right there at the end of it, hopefully on top. There are a lot of good players behind me within striking distance so it’s up to me to continue with the same mindset I have had the last few days and try get the win”
Its certainly a case of more of the same as Caldwell eased to the top of the board with six birdies and just the one dropped shot to sit at a commanding total with 18 holes to play.
As for Ireland’s other Friday qualifiers, Limerick’s Tim Rice sits in a tie for 30th on four-under par after returning a second round 71 to add to his opening 69 while Whitehead’s John Ross Galbraith signed for a second successive 71 to sneak inside the cut-mark at two-under par
Full scoring HERE
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